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"Bosque Verde." It's Spanish for "green forest."
It's a unique residential area.
In a one-of-a-kind community, Nosara.
In a magical country, Costa Rica.

Prices ranging from the $170's to $500,000 on lots ready for home construction, with power, water, roads and drainage already in place.

This private, gated community evolved under the careful guidance of Julio and Barbara, a couple who split their time between Nosara and Carefree, Arizona. They first explored Bosque Verde on horseback in 1997 and immediately fell in love with its majestic views of Pacific sunsets, the Nosara River Valley, and the surrounding green mountains.

They envisioned, and have lovingly crafted, a private community that blends resort residential development with environmental sensitivity.

Snapshot of Bosque Verde:
Gated entrance with security guard residence. Master planned landscaping, Seventy-five homesites averaging more than an acre, designed to maximize views and privacy, Fully sixty percent of the 280 acres is protected in perpetuity in a conservation easement as a wildlife reserve. This area, for the exclusive enjoyment of property owners, includes three waterfalls and hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty. Prices ranging from the $170's to $500,000 on lots ready for home construction, with power, water, roads and drainage already in place. Prohibitions on subdividing lots, An abundant water supply, delivered by Bosque Verde's own state-of-the-art system. Financing available.

COVENANTS
Bosque Verde is designed for those who want to build and live in harmony and tranquility with the natural ecosystems and wildlife, respecting the privacy and tranquility of other residents.

Some of the things to which homesite owners agree, in writing, when they purchase:
that the minimum construction area will be 200 square meters (2,152 square feet), to limit construction height to a maximum of two stories above the grade of the site, not to build more than a single family residence and a guest house, swimming pools, and bodegas (storage room/building), using no more than 15 per cent of the total area of the lot, as outlined below, not to build a condominium or apartment. To properly and responsibly use security measures that may be installed in the main entrance to the project, not to keep horses, sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, chickens, ducks, or geese, or other domestic fowl. Not to operate motor vehicles in the forest reserve area, to minimize lighting external to buildings to minimize light pollution of the night sky. Exterior lighting shall be designed to minimize light pollution. To abide by the land use laws of Costa Rica governing land use, construction, protection of streams and underground aquifers, and conservation of the ecosystems,to "comply with, support and compel" these restrictions: the land is for residential, agricultural and forestry only; the maximum construction area is 15 per cent of the total area of any lot, including housing, garages, pools and storage; commercial activities are not permitted; roads are agricultural easements, for the private use of residents and can never be public and; lots can not be subdivided.

To take part in the formation of a Homeowners' Association, which will assume responsibility for the administration and maintenance of internal roads or easements, as well as setting up regulations for administering and conserving a tranquil, safe and ecologically responsible environment. Before beginning construction, to permit a representative of the seller and/or the Homeowners' Association, to verify that permits, architectural drawings, and structural engineering have been obtained and approved by Costa Rican authorities and that the restrictions have been satisfied, to mutually decide with the seller the location and route of the access driveway to buyer's lot. To pay for the connection from the electrical transformer to structures on the buyer's property, to pay for installation of water lines within the lot boundaries to structures on the lot. Sewage shall be disposed of in a septic tank system installed within the boundaries of the lot. Installation of the septic tank system shall be paid for by the buyer and shall comply with restrictions set out elsewhere in the covenants, to become part of the water system association and to pay water usage tariffs that will be established by the association in conjunction with the competent authorities in the area, to pay the cost of restoring the local roads for any damages that buyer's building or machinery may cause to the internal roads in the project, to have the right to a proportionate share of ownership in the forest reserve area, which comprises at least 60 per cent of the total area of Bosque Verde. to incorporate as obligatory clauses in any subsequent sales agreements for Bosque Verde homesite(s) all of the covenants to which the buyer agrees when purchasing.

THE BEACHES OF NOSARA
From homesites in Bosque Verde, you can look down on all five beaches which collectively gave the name "Beaches of Nosara" to this special part of Costa Rica. This clean, unspoiled strip of coastline is about 100 miles west of San Jose between Tamarindo and Samara, on the Nicoyan Peninsula. It is renowned for constant sea breezes, stunning sunsets, and miles of protected beachfront where the tropical jungle meets the sea. It's a haven for naturalists, home to howler monkeys, resplendent birds, iguanas, sea turtles, and exotic plants. There are several small hotels, more than a dozen open-air restaurants, and a multicultureal community of Costa Ricans, North Americans, and Europeans, among others. Popular activities, in addition to the world-class surfing, include sport-fishing, bird-watching, hiking, tennis, kayaking, horseback riding, and snorkeling. The Nosara Yoga Institute offers classes for locals but also gives instruction to yoga teachers from all over the world. Each of the five beaches area has unique appeal. Here, in order as you approach the area by car, are descriptions of the five "playas" or "beaches":

BAHIA GARZA
Garza is technically a "bahia" or "bay" more so than a "beach". Local fishermen and charter boat captains anchor their boats here, in waters protected from the Pacific waves by an offshore reef. The beachfront is sprinkled with coconut palm trees, small restaurants and bars. You can easily picture yourself in an Ernest Hemingway novel scene here, sitting at a table in the beach sand, sipping a "bien fria" (ice cold) beer, snacking on world class fresh ceviche, listening to the small waves lapping the shore, enjoying gentle sea breezes. You can buy fish in Garza fresh off the boats when they return in the afternoons. At low tide, you can skirt the edge of the bay and explore "playa rosada," the "pink beach," a little cove made up of seashell sand. Or, you can access the pink beach by a short hike on a jungle path, which the locals can show you.

PLAYA GUIONES (pronounced gee-o-nees)
This is the longest of the beaches, about three miles, with clean, white sand. It's part of a natural wildlife refuge, which insures that no homes or hotels can be built on the waterfront. Guiones is a hotspot for surfers from around the world. Because of the beaches large "swell window," it has the most consistent surf in the country. There are waves here which can challenge the most experienced surfer, yet others are safe enough for the beginner. Waves around 10 feet are common. Most of the area's open air restaurants and bars, and several small hotels, are tucked into the jungle behind Guiones.

PLAYA PELADA
"Pelada" means "skinned" in Spanish, but don't worry, it's not a nude beach. Pelada offers lots of tropical vegetation. It's popular for swimming, has a spectacular "blow hole" and seven caves, carved by centuries of pounding surf. A local fisherman can take you in a small boat called a "panga" to observe dolphins, turtles, and occasionally, whales. Snorkeling here is superb when the swells are down. There is a landmark bar/restaurant here, "Olga's," with a sand floor, where you can enjoy great fresh fish soup (it comes with a bowl of rice on the side) or whole fried snapper, and watch the local fisherman head out into the sunset in their small boats for a night of fishing.

NOSARA
Playa Nosara is noted for its black sand, which comes from the dark, ancient volcanic rocks surronding the area. This is where two of Costa Rica's longest rivers, the Montana and the Nosara, meet and flow into the sea. To access the beach itself, you need to wade or take a small boat across the mouth of the river. You can observe and learn the local fishermen's techniques here. Kayak and guideboat tours offer unique views of the tropical vegetation and wildlife. This area also boasts a 125-acre Nosara Biological Reserve. From a convenient starting point at Lagarta Lodge, visitors can take a self-guided, 2-hour walking tour, with a map and short description of the trees. The huge mangroves here have a magical "Harry Potter" quality. Take binoculars to see some of the 270 different bird species. And keep an eye out for monkeys, coatimundis, raccoons, armadillos, anteaters, and crabs. Avoid high tide times and the hottest part of the day. There is a small admission charge to the reserve, payable at the lodge when you pick up your map and tree guide.

OSTIONAL
National Geographic has documented Ostional's claim to fame, the monthly arrival of up to 150,000 Olive Ridley turtles coming ashore to lay their eggs. Local residents can tell you the time of the month when this phenomenon, know as the "arribada," is most likely to occur. Going to Ostional means crossing two rivers, the Nosara and the Montana. This is easy in a 4-wheel drive vehicle in the dry season (December to April) but can require a horse or ATV (quad) when the rivers are high in the green season.

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